Ro Khanna

Ro Khanna is an American politician, author, and attorney serving as the U.S. Representative for California's 17th congressional district since 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, his district encompasses a significant portion of the San Francisco Bay Area's Silicon Valley, including cities like Fremont and Santa Clara. Khanna has positioned himself as a leading progressive voice on economic and technology policy, advocating for a reorientation of American industry and a robust industrial policy.

Early life and education

Ro Khanna was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to immigrants from India. His family moved to the Bucks County area, where he attended public schools. He demonstrated academic prowess early, graduating as valedictorian from Council Rock High School before enrolling at the University of Chicago. At Chicago, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics with honors and was deeply influenced by the political philosophy of John Stuart Mill. He subsequently attended Yale Law School, where he served as an editor for the Yale Law Journal and earned his Juris Doctor degree.

Early career

Following law school, Khanna clerked for Judge James Oakes on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He then entered private practice as an intellectual property attorney at the firm O'Melveny & Myers. His career shifted toward public service when he accepted a role as a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the United States Department of Commerce under the Obama administration, focusing on domestic and international trade policy. During this period, he also authored the book Entrepreneurial Nation: Why Manufacturing is Still Key to America's Future, outlining his early economic vision.

U.S. House of Representatives

Khanna first ran for Congress in 2004, unsuccessfully challenging long-time incumbent Tom Lantos in the Democratic primary. After moving districts, he mounted a high-profile campaign in 2014 against incumbent Mike Honda in California's 17th congressional district, narrowly losing. He defeated Honda in a 2016 rematch and took office in January 2017. In the House, he serves on the influential House Committee on Armed Services and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. He is a deputy whip for the Congressional Progressive Caucus and co-chairs the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. A notable legislative achievement includes his co-authorship of the Endless Frontier Act, which aimed to boost American competitiveness with China.

Political positions

Khanna is a progressive Democrat known for a platform that blends economic populism with technological optimism. He is a leading proponent of reviving American manufacturing, advocating for significant federal investment in sectors like semiconductors, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. He supports Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, and robust antitrust enforcement against major technology companies. On foreign policy, he is considered a non-interventionist, having opposed U.S. involvement in the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen and advocated for a less militarized approach to U.S.–China relations. He was a national co-chair of Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign and serves as a surrogate for progressive policies within the Democratic Party.

Electoral history

In the 2014 Democratic primary for California's 17th district, Khanna lost to incumbent Mike Honda, 48% to 52%. He challenged Honda again in 2016, winning the primary with 53% of the vote and later securing the general election with 61% against Republican opponent Ron Cohen. He was re-elected in 2018, defeating Republican Stephen Jones with over 70% of the vote. In 2020, he won against Ritesh Tandon with 71%, and in 2022, he defeated Republican Anita Chen with 68% of the vote, maintaining his stronghold in the heavily Democratic district.

Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from California Category:1976 births Category:Living people